Method of producing organic coloring-matter.



UNITED STATES PATENT onrucn.

MARCUS WECHSLER, OF KENSINGTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GILLMAN AND SPENCER (1902) LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A CORPORATION OF ENGLAND.

METHOD OF PRODUCING ORGANIC COLORING-MATTER.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS IVEOHSLER, analytical and research chemist, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 136' Sinclair road, Kensington, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Methods of Producing Organic Coloring-Matter, of

v which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of-'organ1c coloring matter such as caramel or caramel substitutes from carbohydrates and the like by acting thereon with ammonia either in the free or gaseous state or in any of its compounds.

Accordlng-to thls 1nvent1on ammonia or a compound thereof is caused to act on any I named temperature or thereabout for some time for instance it may be. kept at the said temperature for half an hour or more or less according to the quantity of ammonia used and the degree of color required.

According to this invention I prefer to keep the mass at the said high temperature as short a time as is consistent with the adequate and economic preparation of the product according to the ingredients used and the degree of color it is desired to. obtain.

According to this invention I carry out the process in two or more fractions each fraction having two stages as above described, for instance I may carry it out in three fractions, In the first fraction I add a portion of the ammonia or ammonia compound it is proposed to use for treating agiven quantity of carbo-hydrate, (the latter having previously been heated as aforesaid to 105 C. or thereabout) for instance I-may add about say about two thirds of the ammonia in that fraction and then heat up the mass as aforesaid. The mass is then cooled again to its original temperature or thereabout (say the aforesaid temperature 5 of 105 C. or thereabout) and then in the.

Specification of Letters Patent.

second fraction another portion of the ammonia is added (say about half of that remaining) and the mass again heated to the aforesaid higher temperature and in this case the higher temperature is maintained for a period which may be shorter than the corresponding stagein the first fraction. In the third fraction which is carried out in'the same way, the remainder of the ammonia is added. Or instead of completing the process in three fractions as aforesaid of liquid ammonia for a specific gravity of .880) to the thus heated glucose. Absorption or combination is completed usually in 5 to 15 minutes. Then the temperature of the mass is raised to 115 to 120 C. or thereabout for a short period such as half an hour. Then cool down promptly to about 105 C. and commence the second fraction; and in this second fraction add further liquid ammonia (say 2%). The absorption is completed as rapidly as before (5 to 15 minutes) and then the temperature of the mass is again raised to 115 C. to 120 C. and then maintained for about the same period as before or it may be less. After again cooling to 105 C. for the third fraction add furtherliquid ammonia (say 2%) and again raise to the said higher temperature and there maintain for a short period. Further according to this inven-' tion I may conduct the whole process corresponding to the said-fractions in a continuous manner. For instance I may keep one vessel containing the carbo-hydrate to be treated with its temperature at the aforesaid higher temperature (say 115 C. or to 120 C.) and another vessel at the aforesai lower temperature (say 105 0.). Portions of the contents of the vessel at the hlgher temperature may be continuously or intermittently from time to time withdrawn in to the vessel at the lower temperature and there the ammonia or further ammonia Patented J uly2, 1912. Application filed October 14, 1910. Serial No. 587,107.

added as required. The contents of the vessel of lower temperature are in a similar manner returned, to the other vessel and this may be continued as long as desired or until the whole process is complete.

The coloring matter obtained by this in vention may be .used for coloring liquors, sweet meats, gravics, and for any other purposes for which ordinary caramel is employed.

What I claim is 1. The method ofpreparingart-ificial caramel or caramel substitute which consists in K heating glucose substantially to 105 C.,add

ing substantially 6 per cent. of liquid ammonia maintaining the mass at a temperature of from 115 C. to 120 C. for substantially half an hour, reducing the temperature to 105 C. adding 2 per cent. more ammonia, subsequently raising the temperature as before, then cooling and adding a further 2 per cent. of ammonia, and finally raising the temperature as before, substantially as described.

2. The continuous method of making artificial organic coloringmatter which consists in maintaining a vessel containing a carbohydrate at a temperature substantially of from 115 to 120 C. and another vessel at a temperature of substantially 105 (1, pass ing the carbo-hydrate into the vessel of the lower temperature, adding ammonia and passing the mixture from the vessel at the lower temperature to that at the higher temperature, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

M. WECHSLER. -Witnesses:

RIPLEY WILSON, C. P. Lmnon. 

